Chapter 6: Mrs Ashford
1242 Words
The city skyline shimmered beneath the afternoon sun as a sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom glided through the busy streets.
Aria Bennett sat quietly in the back seat, staring out of the window.
Only a few hours had passed since she signed the marriage contract.
Yet her entire life had changed.
Her father’s enemies were now her future family.
Her greatest suspect was now her future husband.
And the man sitting beside her remained as unreadable as ever.
Neither of them spoke.
Damien was reviewing documents on his tablet while Aria absentmindedly twisted the silver flash drive between her fingers.
Finally, she broke the silence.
“So…”
Damien looked up.
“Where are we going?”
“Home.”
The word sounded strange coming from him.
Aria almost laughed.
“You mean your home.”
“Our home.”
She turned to look at him.
“I haven’t even married you yet.”
“The media already believes we’re engaged.”
“And after the wedding?”
He closed the tablet.
“You’ll be Mrs Ashford.”
The title sent an uneasy feeling through her chest.
Mrs Ashford.
She still wasn’t used to hearing it.
⸻
Fifteen minutes later…
The Rolls-Royce slowed before an elegant glass skyscraper overlooking the river.
Unlike Ashford Tower, this building wasn’t a corporate office.
It was private.
Exclusive.
Luxury at its finest.
Aria looked up.
“People actually live here?”
Damien stepped out first.
“The top five floors belong to me.”
She blinked.
“You own five floors?”
“I prefer privacy.”
Before she could respond, the driver opened her door.
As soon as she stepped onto the pavement, the concierge hurried forward.
“Welcome home, Mr Ashford.”
Then his eyes landed on Aria.
For the first time in years…
The old concierge forgot how to speak.
Damien noticed.
“This is Miss Aria Bennett.”
He paused.
“My fiancée.”
The concierge nearly dropped the luggage he was holding.
“…Congratulations, sir.”
His voice cracked.
Within seconds, whispers spread among the staff.
“Mr Ashford has a fiancée?”
“I thought he’d never marry.”
“Who is she?”
“I’ve never seen her before.”
Aria pretended not to hear.
⸻
The private lift required fingerprint access.
Once inside, Damien pressed the highest button.
There were no other passengers.
Only silence.
As the lift climbed higher, Aria glanced sideways.
“So…”
“You’ve really never brought another woman here?”
“No.”
She frowned.
“Never?”
“No.”
“What about your ex-girlfriend?”
“I didn’t have one.”
She stared.
“You expect me to believe Britain’s most eligible billionaire has never dated?”
“I’ve been too busy working.”
Aria shook her head.
“That’s… actually sad.”
For the first time…
Damien chuckled.
A quiet, genuine laugh.
It lasted only a second.
But it surprised both of them.
⸻
The lift doors opened.
Aria stepped into a breathtaking penthouse.
The entire wall was made of glass, revealing a panoramic view of the city.
A grand piano stood near the windows.
Modern artwork decorated the walls.
Fresh lilies filled crystal vases.
Everything was elegant.
Everything was spotless.
Everything…
Felt empty.
“This place is enormous.”
Damien placed his keys on a marble table.
“You’ll get used to it.”
“I doubt that.”
Footsteps echoed through the hallway.
Moments later, several household staff gathered in the entrance.
A middle-aged woman wearing a dark navy uniform stood at the front.
Her silver hair was tied neatly into a bun.
Her posture was perfectly straight.
She looked more like a military commander than a housekeeper.
The other employees stood respectfully behind her.
Damien spoke first.
“Mrs Hawthorne.”
The woman inclined her head.
“Mr Ashford.”
“This is Aria.”
A brief silence followed.
Damien continued.
“My future wife.”
Every member of staff looked stunned.
One maid gasped.
Another nearly dropped the tray she was carrying.
Only Mrs Hawthorne remained expressionless.
She slowly looked Aria up and down.
Not rudely.
But critically.
“I see.”
Her voice was calm.
Professional.
“Welcome.”
Aria smiled politely.
“Thank you.”
Mrs Hawthorne didn’t smile back.
⸻
Dinner that evening was unusually quiet.
Aria noticed the staff constantly glancing in her direction.
Every movement she made seemed to attract attention.
Finally, Mrs Hawthorne approached.
“Miss Bennett.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve prepared your room.”
“Thank you.”
The older woman hesitated.
Then spoke carefully.
“I hope you understand that this household has always maintained certain standards.”
Aria sensed where the conversation was going.
“I’m listening.”
“Mr Ashford has spent many years building his reputation.”
Mrs Hawthorne folded her hands.
“The woman who becomes Mrs Ashford should reflect those values.”
Aria met her gaze.
“And what values are those?”
“Grace.”
“Discipline.”
“Dignity.”
Her eyes briefly dropped to Aria’s simple dress.
“And refinement.”
Silence settled over the dining room.
Aria smiled faintly.
“So…”
“You don’t think I belong here.”
Mrs Hawthorne didn’t answer immediately.
Finally…
“I simply hope Mr Ashford knows what he’s doing.”
Before Aria could respond—
“I do.”
Damien’s deep voice echoed through the room.
Everyone turned.
He had been standing in the doorway the entire time.
His expression was unreadable.
Mrs Hawthorne lowered her head.
“My apologies, sir.”
Damien walked toward Aria.
“Miss Bennett belongs wherever I choose.”
His voice remained calm.
“But more importantly…”
He looked directly at his housekeeper.
“She deserves the same respect I receive.”
The room fell silent.
Mrs Hawthorne looked genuinely surprised.
“I understand.”
She bowed slightly toward Aria.
“My apologies, Miss Bennett.”
Aria offered a small smile.
“It’s alright.”
But inside…
She knew this was only the beginning.
Winning over Damien’s household would be far easier than winning over the Ashford family.
⸻
Later that night…
Aria unpacked the few belongings she owned into the enormous walk-in wardrobe.
The shelves were almost empty.
Her entire life fit into one small suitcase.
She placed her father’s photograph on the bedside table.
“I’ll find the truth.”
She whispered softly.
“No matter what it costs.”
A gentle knock came at the door.
Damien stood outside.
“I thought you might need this.”
He handed her a small keycard.
“What is it?”
“It gives you access to most floors of Ashford Group.”
She looked at him in surprise.
“You trust me that much?”
“No.”
He answered honestly.
“I trust what you’re searching for.”
For the first time…
They shared a quiet smile.
Neither of them noticed that, several floors below…
Across the street…
A man hiding inside a parked black SUV slowly lowered a high-powered camera.
The screen displayed several crystal-clear photographs.
Aria stepping out of Damien’s Rolls-Royce.
Aria entering the private residence.
Aria standing beside Damien.
The photographer smiled coldly.
He picked up his phone.
“I’ve found her.”
A familiar voice answered from the other end.
“Good.”
The man looked back at the photographs.
“Mr Victor Ashford will be very interested.”
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